Tata becomes India’s most valued business group

New Delhi: Coinciding with the beginning of a search for chairman Ratan Tata’s successor, the Tata Group has become the country’s wealthiest, with a market value of about Rs 3,71,000 crore — higher than that of the business houses led by the two Ambani siblings.

The Tata Group is followed by Mukesh Ambani-run Reliance Industries (RIL) group as the second-most valued firm (Rs 3,21,750 crore), Anil Agarwal-promoted Sterlite group at third (Rs 1,35,300 crore), Anil Ambani group (ADAG) at fourth (Rs 1,25,000 crore) and Sunil Mittal-led Bharti group at fifth (Rs 1,20,500 crore), in terms of cumulative market capitalisation.

However, the Tatas would be relegated to second position if the market values are combined of the two Reliance groups — one led by Mukesh and another by younger sibling Anil — in the backdrop of their now harmonious relationship after years of acrimony till a few months ago.

The combined market capitalisation of the two Ambani groups currently stand at nearly Rs 4,47,000 crore — higher than the Tatas by nearly Rs 77,000 crore. At the end of the previous quarter (April-June 2010), the Tata group had a total market capital of Rs 3,26,000 crore — making it the second-most valued firm after the Mukesh Ambani group. With just two listed companies — RIL and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure Ltd (RIIL) — the Mukesh Ambani group had a market cap of nearly Rs 3,58,000 crore at the end of the previous quarter. It has declined by nearly Rs 37,000 crore so far in the current quarter.

ADAG’s m-cap, with seven listed companies, was around Rs 1,42,400 crore at the end of the June quarter. The group was the country’s third-most valued after the Mukesh Ambani and Tata Group at the end of the previous quarter.